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Editors: Hoyt, Nicole, Liza and Cory. Contact us at intheloop@mayo.edu.

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November 24, 2015

What We’re Thankful for …

By In the Loop

Around this time each year, for some reason, people tend to think about what they're thankful for. We here at In the Loop are thankful for the amazing stories of hope and healing we get to tell each week. We're also thankful for the wonderful folks we get to talk with – both Mayo Clinic patients and the staff here who are dedicated to doing what they can to make life better for those patients.

In that spirit, we thought we'd ask you, dear readers, to share what you're thankful for – starting with a sampling of your colleagues. Think of it as a virtual trip around the Mayo Clinic Thanksgiving table, with a chance for everyone to share a word of gratitude. Here's some of what your colleagues said they're thankful for:

"I am thankful for working in Florida, with the warm sunshine! I am also thankful for all the great people I interact with at Mayo Clinic!" – Nancy O'Keefe, Quality Management Services

"For our patients. I learn so much from them each day: How to be patient. How to be kind. How to forgive. How to be grateful. How to smile." – John Murphy, Community Relations

"I am grateful to be part of an organization that is focused on service. Both Mayo Clinic and the volunteer programs are dedicated to serving the needs of our patients. Team Blue has your back!" – Kim Van Rooy, Volunteer Services

"For the gift of life. For family and friends. For each new day!" - Sister Generose Gervais, Administration

"More than mere experts, the nurses and techs of the operating room are by your side when surgery gets critical. They save lives, reassure anxious patients, and calm restless surgeons." – Christopher Moir, M.D., Pediatric Surgery

"I am thankful the amazing colleagues in GI Endoscopy. All of the doctors, nurses and techs have such a great time and are able to have wonderful teamwork and friendship. If it were not for humor how else are we able to enjoy our work so much?" – Melissa Tang, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Nursing

"I'm truly grateful for our students, they enrich Mayo in so many ways. I'm also very thankful to work with an incredible group of dedicated program directors, faculty, and administrative colleagues at all of our Mayo sites and regions." – Troy Tynsky, Mayo School of Health Sciences

"I am grateful for having the health and ability to do what I love – which of course includes being a mom to Sarah and Drew, a wife to David, and gathering with friends and family over the holidays. I am also thankful that I continue to find purpose and meaning in my work at Mayo and for women with heart disease." – Sharonne Hayes, M.D., Cardiovascular Diseases

"For a life of healthy balance. A balanced diet. Physical balance. Spiritual balance. An abundant life! And I am thankful for the time to reflect and be thankful. God has been very generous to me. " Sister Tierney Trueman, Mayo Clinic Values Council

"I am thankful the benefits Mayo has provided to me as an employee – specifically, the adoption reimbursement benefit, which was so beneficial to our family as we were adopting our daughter. As a two-time cancer survivor, I'm also grateful to have access to a team of physicians, researchers, and compassionate staff who make sure that I'm able to celebrate the holiday and every day being healthy." – Cindy Weiss, Public Affairs

"Being able to start the day with a workout and hot shower, and end the day in a comfortable bed next to the greatest woman in the world." – Kerry Olsen, M.D., Otorhinolaryngology

"There is much thanksgiving in my heart for the privilege of serving our patients alongside the wonderful Florida Neurology/Neurosurgery team. I am also very grateful to our facilities team who keep our campus clean, beautiful and functional; to Security for looking out for all of us; to our food service staff for being so friendly; and to Computer Support for not laughing out loud when they discover a doctor's PC issue is easily solved by simply clicking the expand button." – Jessica Davidson, Neurology

"I love to get up each morning, and I look forward to the variety of people I will see that day. I ask myself … 'I wonder, Who will I help today?' For that I am thankful. " – Sister Lauren Weinandt, Saint Marys Archives

"I am thankful for a wonderful team of co-workers that are supportive of one another. I am also thankful for a supportive family as I complete my goals in nursing." – Christie Lodermeier, Nursing

"I am thankful for my new career at Mayo Graduate School in Education Administrative Services and the amazing opportunities Mayo Clinic has to offer to their staff. I am also thankful for my healthy happy family and feel grateful every day that we live in a warm and loving home." – Sarah Giese, Education Administrative Services

"I am thankful for living in a country with such abundance. Finding that I am so blessed with everything from freedom of religion down to whether I want smear or butter on my bagel in the morning boils down to where I happened to be born. The only thing that sets me apart from the woman in Burundi struggling to determine where her next meal comes from …. is location. I truly feel blessed and abundantly grateful for that." – Amanda Burnett, Public Affairs

"I am thankful for my family/friends, warm Arizona winters, the privilege of working with and learning from the fantastic people of Mayo Clinic, and living in the United States of America!" – Nancy Gray, Mayo Medical School – Arizona Campus

"I am most thankful and grateful for the abundance of blessings that surround all of us on any given day and in any given moment of the day. For this I am humbled and grateful beyond words." – Michelle Leak, Administration

"My standing desk! Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, so I'm very thankful that I have an opportunity to alternate between sitting and standing while working." – Anthony Cook, Global Business Solutions

"I am deeply grateful for the blessing of my family and good health to enjoy the countless gifts of life." – Cheryl Hadaway, Development

"Sometimes in our hectic and ever changing environments, it is difficult to stop, breathe, and think upon the things in our lives we are thankful for. Recent events in our world have shaken our faith in humankind, and it is easy to look upon world events as disastrous. As nurses, we are privileged to care for and come into the lives of our patients in times of great need and we realize we are thankful for our own health and support systems. We often fear losing what we have, but at this time, it is good to discard fear and think upon those things that are precious to most. It is trite to say, but ever true, that I am thankful for my family, my health, my faith and my country." – Ellen Gerber, Nursing

I am thankful for every little thing that could have gone wrong, but didn't. For example, I haven't flossed in several weeks, but none of my teeth have fallen off yet. I am truly thankful for that!" – Amit Sood, M.D., General Internal Medicine

"I am on my second leave of absence for a hip replacement in July of this year. Most recently, was diagnosed with an infection in my surgical site, four months later. I am extremely thankful for the excellent surgical, medical and nursing care I have received along the way. Even though this has been an unfortunate experience for me, I have received excellent care and caring along the way by all of the professionals I have encountered. I am grateful for Mayo Clinic care!" – Diane Holmay, Nursing Administration

"The Book of Hebrews says 'we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.' I'm thankful for the many people who've touched my life – family, friends, colleagues, strangers – and the reminder this season brings to make the most of every opportunity, every encounter, with those around us." – Matt Dacy, Heritage Hall

We're thankful for all of those who took the time to respond, but particularly for Nancy O'Keefe, who added this post script: "I am thankful for In the Loop, too! I read the stories and try to anticipate the subject of the Quote of the Day." As do we, Nancy. As do we.

Continue this trip around our virtual Thanksgiving table and join in by sharing a comment below about what you are thankful for this Thanksgiving. It may just become a holiday tradition.

I am Thankful: Mayo has provided me the opportunity to meet wonderful individuals from around the world. Co-workers who have shared their culture, beliefs, food,family and companionship. I feel so blessed to be able to welcome these new members of my growing family. Connections that will last the rest of my life. It gives me hope that global PEACE is possible through individual connections.

I am thankful for the staff and physicians that showed me 20 yrs ago I had a life to live and not a death to wait upon. I have welcomed a beautiful daughter and two sweet grand babies from my stepdaughter that I don’t think I would have had if I would have given up the opportunity to be evaluated at Mayo Clinic. God bless.